Signal device and circuit closer therefor



July 51 1924. 1,499,708

, L. R. TUTEN SIGNAL DEVICE ANDCIRCUIT CLOSER THEREFOR Filed June 12, 1922 Laurence R -Tuten Patented July 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES LAURENCE ROBERT TUTEN, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SIGNAL DEVICE AND CIRCUIT CLOSER THEREFOR.

Application filed June 12.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAURENCE R. TUTEN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Richland and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sig-- nal Devices and Circuit Closer Therefor, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to signal devices and has for its object the provision of a novel low water alarm or signal designed to be used in connection with a water circulation system for cooling the internal combustion engine of an automobile or the like whereby to prevent danger of injuring the engine by operating it with insuf ficient water in the cooling system.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a novel circuit closer structure interposed between the radiator and the engine and including float operated means for closing the circuit through an alarm or signal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so positioned that the inclination of the vehicle with respect to the center of gravity does not affect the operation of the device, in view of its close proximity to the radiator and its particular construction.

It is also an object of the invention to i provide a hydrometer including a float havmg a circuit closer for closin a circuit through contacts carried by t e housing of the float, and wherein the weight of the float serves to hold the circuit closer in engagement with the comactsuntil the danger is relieved or the circuit opened otherwise by the operator.

It is still a, further object of the invention to provide a signal device of this character wherein the alarm is sounded by closing of the circuit throu h the medium of a circuit closer carried y the float, said circuit closer having a portion thereof disposed over the contacts of the alarm system at all times, regardless of any oscillating or rotary movement of the float within the float casing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be 1922. Serial No. 567.804.

hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawin in which igure 1 is a ragmentary elevation of an automobile radiator showing the invention applied, the alarm and battery being shown diagrammatically Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the circuit closer structure; and

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a tank or radiator, such as used by automobiles, the radiator having the usual water inlet member 6 which is connected by a hose to the water outlet member of the engine. In the. application of the device, the same may be either positioned on the water inlet 6 of the radiator or water outlet 6 of the engine. For the purpose of illustration I have shown a pipe 7 extended from the .base of the Water outlet 6, said pipe having a stop or waste cook 7 connected thereto.

The circuit closer structure includes a housing divided into a casing 8 and a float chamber 9. The float chamber has its upper end open and its lower end closed and provided with an inlet member 10, in which one end of the cock 7 is disposed. A silencer 10 is threaded into the inlet member 10, said silencer being provided with openings through which the water enters the chamber 9. The silencer is intended to prevent unnecessary movement of the float upon entrance of fluid into th chamber 9, as well as'to prevent a sudden supply of water from causing the float to rise suddenly or to prevent the float from leaving its proper level within the chamber 9. The upper edge of the chamber 9 is ,exteriorly threaded and screwed into an enlargement 11 provided at the lower portion of the housing '8, said enlargement having its outer edge knurled to facilitate gripping it so that the section or casing 8 may be unscrewed to permit access to the chamber 9 when desired.

Disposed adjacent the lower portion of the casing 8 in spaced relation to the top 11 of the chamber 9 is a partition 12 havin a central pocket 13 having a bottom 13 an adapted to receive a fabric washer 14, such present forming the bottom of the casing 8 is a bottom or wall 15 which cooperates with the wall 12 to define a compartmentfor the accumulation of such steam or fluid as may enter the-casing. The compartment is provided with'an opening in which an outlet pipe 15 is disposed, by means of which the accumulated fluid within the compartment may escape, thereby preventing said fluid from enteringthe casing 8. Corroding or short circuiting of the contacts of the circuit control mechanism is prevented by this means. Slidable within the float chamber 9 is a float 16, which may be made of any suitable material, preferably aluminum, so

as to be light and yet substantial. Extending through the float is a tube 16 which permits passage of steam and water through the float if necessary, to prevent interference with the operation of the float. In order to prevent binding of the float within the chamber 9 wings 16. ar provided, said wings projecting from the periphery of the float in spaced relation to each other so as to hold the float spaced from the walls of the chamber.

Connected to the center of the top of the float is a float rod 17, the end.18 of the rod being reduced to provide a shoulder 19, said reduced portion being threaded for the reception of a nut will be hereinafter described.

The casing 8 is provided with a pair of electric terminals 21, each terminal being substantially U-shaped and having an opening in its bight portion through which a bolt 22 is passed to connect the terminal to the casing, said bolt passing through the casing. A washer 23 is disposed between the casing and the contact, said washer havin a sleeve for the reception of the bolt 22. The arm 24 of each terminal is provided with an opening adapted to receive fastening means 25 by means of which a wire 26 is secured to the terminal, said wire extending through an opening provided in the top 9 of the casing 8. The opposite arm 27 of the terminal is provided with aresilient contact finger 28, secured to the arm .27 by means of the bolt 22 and nut 22. The arms 27 of the contact. fingers 28 of each terminal are disposed in spaced relation to each other, and substantially in ali nment, the float rod '17 passing between sai arms.

In connection with the circuit closer an electric bell 29 is used, said bell being positioned at any point adjacent the operator of the vehicle. The wires 26 leading from the terminals are connected one tothe bell 29 and the other to a battery 30, a wire 31 being extended from the battery to the bell. A switch-32 is interposed in the wire 31 so that after sounding the alarm the operator may open the circuit to stop the operation of the alarm and. then proceed to replenish 20, the purpose of whichthe supply. In order to close the circuit through the fingers 28 a circuit closing member is provided in the form of a plate 33, said plate being disposed on the end 18 of the rod 17, insulating washersbeing disposed above 'and below the plate to insulate the same from the rod 17. The plate is preferably circular so that even if the float 16 should move or oscillate laterally of the housing 10, it will not interfere with the closing of the circuit, as a portion of the plate will always be disposed over the contact fingers.

When the water in the radiator diminishes, the float 16, of course, descends. When the level of the water is dangerously low the float drops to such a point that the circuit closing plate 33 is brought into engagement with the resilient fingers 28, thereby making an even and positive contact, and closing the circuit through the bell 29, thus notifying the operator that the water is low. An important feature of this arrangement is that the fingers 28 are made of resilient material, so that the contact of the plate therewith will be certain. Movement of the float toward the bottom of the float chamber 9 is limited by contact of the circuit closing plate with the fingers 28 and downward movement of the fingers '28 under the influence of the weight of the float is limited by the arms 27 of the terminals. Another important feature is that vibration of the engine or movement of the vehicle will not accidentally open the circuit after the plate is brought into engagement with the contacts, as the weight of the float 16 is suflicient to hold the late 33 in engagement with the contact ngers 28. It will also be'noted in Figure 1, that the radius or grade lines A-A and BB clearly indicate that the various inclinations of the'vehicle on the grades with respect to the center of gravity, will not interfere with the operation of the float.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this inventionprovides a novel construction in which there is no danger of the heated water within the chamber 6 of the radiator interfering with, or causing short circuiting of the terminals within the housing 9, as the partition 12 prevents the entrance of steam into the casing 8.

It will be noted in Figure 1 that the circuit control device is disposed in close proxim'ity with the center of the radiator, so that the float is always maintained in the proper position to accurately indicate the level of the water. In addition to this, the novel and can be applied to any make of engine.

at is claimed is In a circuit closer structure, an open topped casing constituting a float chamber and pro fi vided at its bottom with a liquid inlet, an open topped casing member detachably secured upon the top of the first named casing and provided with a removable cap, said second named casing member having its bottom closed by a wall and being provided with a transverse partition spaced above said wall and cooperating therewith to define a moisture collecting compartment between the float chamber and the interior of the second named casing, a drain pipe leading from said compartment, a float operating within the rst named casing and carrying a rod slidable through said bottom wall and partition and extending into the second named casing, contacts within and insulated from said second named casing, and a metallic member carried by the rod and engageable with said contacts when the float drops.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

LAURENCE ROBERT TUTEN. 

